MIND Education Appoints Brandon Smith as President to Lead Next Chapter of Research-Driven Math Innovation

• Appointment: A 15-year veteran of the organization, Smith steps into the role to guide MIND through its next phase of research, innovation, and impact. 
• Leadership Philosophy: Smith brings an R&D-driven approach grounded in learning science, evidence, iteration, and close collaboration with educators and students. 
• Organizational Reach: MIND Education's neuroscience-based visual learning programs currently serve more than 1.6 million students, 95,000 educators, and 4,600 schools nationwide. 

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MIND Education, creator of ST Math and a leader in neuroscience-based visual-first math learning, today announced the appointment of Brandon Smith as President. A 15-year veteran of the organization, Smith will guide MIND through its next phase of research, innovation, and impact. 

Smith's tenure at MIND spans senior roles across research, design, and product leadership. That background informs an approach to executive leadership built around empirical evidence, continuous iteration, and direct feedback from educators and students. 

"R&D teaches you a certain kind of humility," said Smith. "You can believe strongly in an idea, but ultimately, the learner gets the final vote. You put something into the world, observe what happens, listen to educators and students, study the evidence, and make the next version better. That way of thinking will shape how I lead as President." 

"Brandon is the right leader for MIND at exactly the right time," said Chuck Amos, Executive Chair of the Board, MIND Education. "He understands what has made MIND distinctive for nearly three decades, but he is equally focused on where the opportunity is going next. Educators are looking for learning solutions that are more effective, more responsive to their needs, and more grounded in evidence, and MIND is exceptionally well-positioned to meet that need. Brandon brings the vision, discipline, and deep understanding of learning science to lead that next chapter. The Board is incredibly optimistic about MIND's path forward and the impact we can have on students, educators, and the future of math learning." 

Across the country, MIND's programs currently serve more than 1.6 million students, 95,000 educators, and 4,600 schools. For nearly three decades, MIND Education has challenged conventional instruction by leveraging the brain's natural spatial-temporal reasoning capabilities. Under Smith's leadership, MIND will deepen that work by keeping research, product development, and classroom application closely connected—and making visual-first learning increasingly responsive to the evolving needs of students and educators.

That approach is already reflected in MIND's 2026–27 ST Math updates, which include learning experiences refined using puzzle-level data, new level-attempt alerts, streamlined educator dashboards, enhanced reporting, standards mapping, Infinite JiJis, and the return of Acorn Factory. 

Looking ahead, MIND is focused on extending the reach of its research-driven, visual-first approach to mathematics—making powerful learning experiences available to more students, educators, and families across a broader range of settings and needs. That continued expansion reflects MIND's larger vision for the future: translating decades of learning science into increasingly accessible ways for students to build deep mathematical understanding, problem-solving ability, and confidence. 

About MIND Education 
MIND Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing how people understand and learn mathematics. Grounded in decades of research in neuroscience, cognitive science, and learning, MIND translates discovery into practical solutions that help students develop deep mathematical understanding and problem-solving ability.

MIND is the creator of ST Math, a PreK–8 visual-first instructional program that transforms student learning by teaching math the way every brain learns. Used by schools and districts across the country, ST Math helps equip students to succeed through deep understanding, problem-solving, and productive struggle.

Since 1998, MIND Education and ST Math have reached millions of students nationwide. Learn more at MINDEducation.org. 

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Stephanie Grau
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SOURCE MIND Education